Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal lead stars ‘heartbroken’ over losing home in fire

Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal have described the anguish they feel at losing the respective homes they raised their children in, amid the “unprecedented wildfires” raging across Los Angeles.

Thousands of firefighters were attempting to contain the original Palisades fire, which has burnt nearly 16,000 acres, and seven others across southern California which threaten to destroy more homes and lives as strong winds scattered embers.

The wildfires have seen the city declare a state of emergency, with at least 70,000 people forced to evacuate their homes as the metropolitan area became blanketed in a thick cloud of smoke and ash.

The latest update saw a new fire break out in the Hollywood Hills, threatening a host of tourist sites including the Walk of Fame.

US socialite Hilton said she was “heartbroken beyond words” to see her Malibu home “burn to the ground on live TV” as she watched the news with her family – including her son Phoenix and daughter London whom she shares with husband Carter Reum.

“This home was where we built so many precious memories. It’s where Phoenix took his first steps and where we dreamed of building a lifetime of memories with London,” she said in a post on Instagram.

“While the loss is overwhelming, I’m holding onto gratitude that my family and pets are safe.”

It comes months after a trailer on the set of her Bad Bitch Academy music video set fire, which saw “so many of my favourite things destroyed”, Hilton said at the time.

Meanwhile US actor Crystal, and his wife Janice, have confirmed their home of 46 years was destroyed in the blaze.

“Words cannot describe the enormity of the devastation we are witnessing and experiencing,” the couple said in a joint statement given to the PA news agency.

“Janice and I lived in our home since 1979. We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can’t be taken away.

“We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this.”

The couple described the Pacific Palisades as a “resilient community of amazing people”, adding: “It is our home”.

It comes after Oscar-winning songwriter Diane Warren confirmed she had also lost her beach home of 30 years in the wildfire, adding that her animals had survived the ordeal.

A string of stars shared harrowing stories of having to flee their homes, including Mark Hamill, James Woods and Mandy Moore.

Star Wars actor Hamill said his family were “fleeing for our lives” as they evacuated their home, while Once Upon A Time In America star Woods said: “It tests your soul, losing everything at once.”

Sharing footage of the destruction in her neighbourhood, This Is Us actress Moore wrote on Instagram: “Honestly, I’m in shock and feeling numb for all so many have lost, including my family.

“My children’s school is gone. Our favourite restaurants, leveled. So many friends and loved ones have lost everything too. Our community is broken but we will be here to rebuild together.”

Meanwhile, Oscar-winner Jamie Lee Curtis confirmed her home was safe, but “our beloved neighbourhood is gone” as she shared videos of the fire on Instagram.

The Hills stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag also confirmed they had lost their home in the blaze.

The pair, who married for the second time in 2009, documented the escalation of the fire on their Snapchat stories with Pratt saying: “I’m watching our house burn down on the security cameras.”

Montag said: “So our house is on fire and we were able to get out in time, but I keep going over and over in my mind of the things I should’ve got, but we’re out safe and that is the most important thing, and Spencer is behind me.”

In a later post, she said while tearing up: “I’m so sad our house has gone” as they had lost “everything we worked so hard for”.

In a post on X, Khloe Kardashian paid tribute to the “brave firefighters, volunteers, neighbours, good Samaritans and first responders working tirelessly to protect lives and communities across California”.

She added: “Your dedication, courage, and selflessness in the face of such challenging conditions are truly inspiring. We are all so grateful for your hard work and sacrifices.”

It comes after Governor Gavin Newsom thanked President Joe Biden for his “swift response and aid to California as we work to battle these unprecedented wildfires”.

More than 1,400 firefighters remained on the scene, alongside 267 fire engines and nine helicopters, according to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

It comes less than a month after residents in Malibu were evacuated from a wind-driven blaze dubbed the Franklin Fire, which saw more than 4,000 acres burn and stars including Dick Van Dyke, Cher and Jane Seymour forced to leave their homes.

Otto Schenk, director known for traditional opera productions, dies at 94

Otto Schenk, an actor who became a noted director praised for traditional opera productions and criticized by advocates of contemporary approaches, died Thursday at age 94.

Schenk lived in Austria, and his death was announced by the Vienna State Opera.

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He created 31 productions there, starting with Janáček’s “Jenůfa” in 1964 and ending with Janáček’s “The Cunning Little Vixen” in 2014. Many of his creations remain in use, including a 1979 version of Johann Strauss II’s “Die Fledermaus” that was streamed around the world on New Year’s Eve.

“Otto Schenk is an essential, unforgettable chapter in the history of our theater,” Vienna State Opera Director Bogdan Roščić said in a statement. “But he was also an artist who shaped the world of theater for half a century like few others. As sacred as the theater was to him, he approached the works naturally and fearlessly, drawing on an immense knowledge. An infinite love for the singers went hand in hand with hard, uncompromising rehearsal work and honesty. “

Schenk led 16 productions at New York’s Metropolitan Opera, starting with Puccini’s “Tosca” in 1968 and ending with Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” in 1996. His staging of Wagner’s four-work “Der Ring des Nibelungen” premiered from 1986-89 and was shown in 20 full cycles from 1989 to 2009 and broadcast on public television in 1990. Schenk received a huge ovation when he took a curtain call after an April 18, 2009, performance of “Siegfried.”

His romantic, realistic staging had set designer Günther Schneider-Siemssen create images of a river, forest and mountains dominated by greens and oranges, and costumes by Rolf Langenfass that evoked the original Ring of the 1876 Bayreuth Festival. It was in a way a response to Patrice Chéreau’s centennial Ring at Bayreuth in 1976, set in an industrial age Ring and interpreted by some as Marxist.

“I wanted to tell a romantic old story, like starting with ‘Once upon a time,’” Schenk said during a 1989 interview with The Associated Press. “All the secrets of Wagner’s Ring should be guessed by the audience or found by the audience.”

Born in Vienna, Schenk studied acting at Vienna’s University of Music and Performing Arts, began directing in 1953 and led his first opera, Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute),” at Salzburg’s State Theatre in 1957. He continued to act and performed 237 times at the Salzburg Festival from 1950-97, becoming head of drama there from 1986-88.

“The theater world has lost one of its greatest phenomena, an exceptional artist, a real legend,” current Salzburg Festival artistic director Markus Hinterhäuser said in a statement.

At the Met, his stagings of Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann)” and Wagner’s “Tannhäuser” in 1977 earned rave reviews, and Met artistic director James Levine picked him to direct a new Ring Cycle plus Wagner’s “Parsifal” in 1991 and “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg” in 1993.

“At a time when many new productions of ‘Der Ring des Nibelungen’ might be more aptly entitled ‘Der Ringling des Barnum und Bailey,’ the Metropolitan Opera’s staging of Wagner’s epic has cast a vote for the notion that maybe, just maybe, the composer knew best,” New York Times critic Donal Henahan wrote in 1989. “The Metropolitan’s trend-bucking project has aroused widespread suspicion, even resentment. ‘Traditional,’ ‘conventional,’ ‘regressive’ and ‘childishly representational’ were some of the nicer epithets thrown about in lobbies and in print. … Even granting the possibility that radical rethinking of Wagner’s works might occasionally stimulate thought about their everyday relevance, a staging that pays honor to the original is a useful counterbalance.”

Met presentations were long dominated by Schenk and Franco Zeffirelli, who had 11 stagings that premiered from 1964-98. Schenk said he did not look for hidden meanings.

“Wagner in his life gave no indication on what the Ring meant,” Schenk told the AP. “He didn’t interpret.”

Diddy accusers and former employees detail alleged abuse in docuseries

Diddy accusers and former employees have detailed alleged violence and abuse in on-camera interviews for an upcoming docuseries coming off of the heels of the announcement of a different one from Peacock.

Investigation Discovery (ID) released a trailer for The Fall Of Diddy on Thursday which featured some inner circle members of the 55-year-old rapper – born Sean Combs – who is currently in federal prison over charges including sex trafficking and racketeering.

The Fall Of Diddy is a four-part series and will premiere across two nights beginning Monday, January 27 at 9pm EST on ID and streaming service Max.

A press release for the upcoming docuseries reads: ‘Through these interviews combined with a vast collection of archival footage, The Fall of Diddy paints a holistic picture of a mogul who is alleged to have wielded his extensive power and influence to obscure, for decades, a pattern of abuse and violence that left an unprecedented amount of pain and suffering in his wake.’

Two of Diddy’s accusers were featured in the trailer including Rodney ‘Lil Rod’ Jones and Thalia Graves who have each sued the rapper for sexual misconduct.

Jones had one of the strongest moments of the clip as he says at the end: ‘It’s a lot of people like [Combs] in the music business.

Diddy accusers and former employees have detailed alleged violence and abuse in on-camera interviews for an upcoming docuseries The Fall Of Diddy from Investigation Discovery (ID)

Two of Diddy’s accusers were featured in the trailer including Rodney ‘Lil Rod’ Jones (pictured) and Thalia Graves who have each sued the rapper for sexual misconduct

Jones is a former producer for Diddy and has claimed that he had sexually harassed him while Graves (pictured) alleged that Diddy violently raped her in 2001 before threatening her into silence.

‘Exposing [him] means exposing them.’

Graves said she believed that she was the only one accusing Diddy as she said: ‘I always believed that I was the only victim.’

Jones is a former producer for Diddy and has claimed that he had sexually harassed him while Graves alleged that Diddy violently raped her in 2001 before threatening her into silence.

There were also others featured including a member of his Bad Boy Records girl group Danity Kane named D. Woods.

Former Vibe magazine Editor-in-Chief Danyel Smith was also featured in the trailer as she opened up about alleged violent behavior toward her.

Others who previously worked for Diddy were featured in the clip including a onetime chef, early publicist, and make-up artist Mylah Morales who says she witnessed Diddy’s alleged abuse of singer and ex-girlfriend Cassie (born Cassandra Ventura).

The trailer includes a short clip of footage from March 5, 2016 showing the rapper shirtless with a towel wrapped around his waist, chasing Cassie down the hall at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City before grabbing and kicking her.

There was also Diddy’s former bodyguard Roger Bonds in addition to a man who said – without context – that he was ‘fighting for his life’ and had a photo of himself in the hospital.

Archival footage of Diddy arriving with then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez to the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2000 was shown

There were also others featured including a member of his Bad Boy Records girl group Danity Kane named D. Woods

Former Vibe magazine Editor-in-Chief Danyel Smith was also featured in the trailer as she opened up about alleged violent behavior toward her

Others who previously worked for Diddy were featured in the clip including a onetime chef, early publicist, and make-up artist Mylah Morales (pictured) who says she witnessed Diddy’s alleged abuse of singer and ex-girlfriend Cassie (born Cassandra Ventura)

The trailer includes a short clip of footage from March 5, 2016 showing the rapper shirtless with a towel wrapped around his waist, chasing Cassie down the hall at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City before grabbing and kicking her

One of the most interesting parts of the trailer came when a woman sat down in the interview chair while in the dark with their identity hidden.

She said: ‘The truth will always find its way, even in the dark.’

Adding to the intrigue, ID also says that there will also be ‘accounts from new voices yet to be announced, including those coming forward for the first time with deeply disturbing accounts of their encounters with Combs.’

The music mogul remains in federal custody at the notoriously tough Metropolitan Detention Center in New York City awaiting trial.

Combs has pleaded not guilty, and in a recent report from Page Six he was said to have appeared in court ‘astonishingly thinner’ and ‘greyer,’ after months away from the lavish lifestyle he and his family were accustomed to.

Following a months-long investigation by authorities, he was charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution – all of which he denies – and a trial date has been set for May 5.

Combs was placed on suicide watch during his first week in custody, but was taken off of it shortly after, with his lawyer claiming his client was ‘focused and very strong.’

He faces a string of sex charges alongside renewed allegations, including a new lawsuit alleging sexual assault against a 13-year-old girl.

There was also Diddy’s former bodyguard Roger Bonds

An old photo of Bonds and Diddy together was shown

There was also an unnamed man

He said – without context – that he was ‘fighting for his life’ and had a photo of himself in the hospital

One of the most interesting parts of the trailer came when a woman sat down in the interview chair while in the dark with their identity hidden as she said: ‘The truth will always find its way, even in the dark’

Jones had one of the strongest moments of the clip as he says at the end: ‘It’s a lot of people like [Combs] in the music business. Exposing [him] means exposing them’

The Fall Of Diddy is a four-part series and will premiere across two nights beginning Monday, January 27 at 9pm EST on ID and streaming service Max

The new legal filing seen by DailyMail.com claims Diddy had allegedly ‘aggressively approached’ the young girl with a ‘crazed look in his eyes’ before sexually assaulting her.

She claims an unidentified male celebrity also raped her while Diddy and an unnamed female celebrity watched.

The rapper has denied the allegations. His attorneys told DailyMail.com he ‘never sexually assaulted anyone’ and said the most recent ‘barrage of filings’ were nothing but ‘clear attempts to garner publicity.’

Lily Allen Says She’s ‘Really Not in a Good Place’ and That She’s Been ‘Spiraling and Spiraling’

Becca Longmire is a digital news writer-reporter at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2024. Her work has previously appeared on ET Canada, Metro and the Mail Online.

Lily Allen is planning to take a break amid her ongoing mental health struggles.

On the Thursday, Jan. 9 episode of her BBC podcast Miss Me? with co-host Miquita Oliver, Allen, 39, admitted she’s “finding it really hard to be interested in anything” at the moment while discussing the fact she hadn’t seen Sunday’s 2025 Golden Globes.

“I’m just so… I’m really not in a good place,” the “Not Fair” singer told Oliver.

She continued, “I know I’ve been talking about it for months, but I’ve been spiraling and spiraling and spiraling and it’s got out of control.”

“I tried, I mean, I came to the Christmas lunch, the Miss Me? Christmas lunch, and I had a panic attack and had to go home. I went to see something at the theater the other night with my [friends] Carlo and Claire, and I had to leave at halftime,” Allen shared.

The mother of two — who married husband David Harbour, 49, in 2020 — continued, “I just can’t concentrate on anything except the pain that I’m going through.”

“It’s really, really hard,” she added, confirming she was going to be taking a bit of a break.

“I’m going away next week. You’re not gonna hear me for a few weeks, listeners,” Allen said, denying “vicious rumors” claiming she’d relapsed and was going to rehab, clearly getting emotional on the show.

Allen’s reps didn’t immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE.

The musician, who has been sober for five years, has spoken openly about being free from drugs and alcohol.

The daughter of actor and comedian, Keith Allen, told the U.K. newspaper The Times in a November interview, “I think that addiction runs deep in my family, so self-medicating was going to be on the cards. For me, it didn’t really feel like an ‘if,’ it was a ‘when.’ “

“The journey of sobriety isn’t singular, and it isn’t linear. So if sharing my own experiences and struggles helps even just one person process what they’re going through, then it’s all worth it,” the star, who is an ambassador for the British addiction charity Forward Trust, told the outlet.

Allen has also been open about her mental health struggles on her podcast, sharing on the Dec. 16 episode that she’s been having difficulty eating for the past three years, which she’d kept hidden from her therapist.

“I’ve been going through a tough time over the last few months and my eating has become a real issue,” she said on the show.

Allen, who previously said she suffered from bulimia in 2011, said on the Dec. 16 podcast episode that she didn’t necessarily lie in therapy, but she’d been unintentionally leaving aspects of her life out during her sessions.

“It’s just because it hasn’t seemed at the top of the list of the important things that I need to talk about,” she said, adding elsewhere on the podcast, “I’m really not in a great place mentally at the moment.”

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If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, please go to NationalEatingDisorders.org.

The Coolest ‘American Primeval’ Character Was a Real-Life Mountain Man Legend

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THEY CALL IT the Wild West for a good reason. Netflix’s newest limited series is that of American Primeval, a bloody and violent look into the Mormons’ attempts to settle and develop a home in Utah. Along with the Mormons are those of the Shoshone tribe, and a woman (Betty Gilpin) and her son looking to head west alongside a guide (Taylor Kitsch). Caught in the middle of it all is none other than mountain man Jim Bridger.

Portrayed by legendary character actor Shea Whigham, Bridger is a connective tissue between many of the supporting characters in Primeval. As such, he’s like a good point guard, setting up characters in the Peter Berg-directed and Mark L. Smith-penned series to meet and interact with one another. He’s a slightly less menacing version of Deadwood’s Al Swearengen — but just as funny and charming.

However, Jim Bridger has quite a legacy in the American West. If you’re settling into American Primeval this week and want to know more about one of America’s original mountain men, we’ve got covered with this handy guide.

Stream American Primeval Here

Ole’ Jimmy was born in Richmond, Virginia, in March of 1804 before moving to St. Louis. Orphaned at 13, he later apprenticed to a blacksmith but gave that up to join William Henry Ashley’s fur trapping expedition up the Missouri River — a process that he did for roughly 20 years.

Bridger played a notable role in the incident of Hugh Glass, as portrayed in The Revenant — which, it just so happens, is also written by Primeval scribe Mark L. Smith. The story goes that he was part of Ashley’s crew when the famed bear attacked Glass. Bridger, who was identified as Bridges in the story (played in The Revenant by Will Poulter), stuck around with John Fitzgerald, waiting for Glass to die before taking his rifle, knife, and equipment and fleeing the scene. After Glass had survived, he took off after Fitzgerald and Bridger found the latter at a camp at the mouth of the Bighorn River. It’s said, due to Briger’s youth, that Glass forgave him.

From there, Bridger was one of the first non-indigenous people to explore Yellowstone, going further into the Great Salt Lake area before settling and developing the area known as Fort Bridger around 1843. Bridger also interacted with the Donner Party, who passed through the fort before heading through the infamous Hastings Cutoff and getting trapped in the Sierra Nevada winter.

The events of American Primeval square up pretty well with real life. Throughout the course of the show, Bridger is, indeed, in charge of the fort. In 1853, the Mormons did show up with a warrant for his arrest. It’s said that he escaped capture, returning to the East. It’s reported that the Mormons bought the fort for $8,000 in gold coins, selling it to fellow mountain man and trader Luis Vázquez. A deed from the Salt Lake City records book verifies that the Fort was indeed sold to the LDS Church.

After departing Fort Bridger, the mountain man served as a guide during the Utah War before becoming the head guide for the Raynold Expedition, which explored and mapped between the Dakota Territory and the Yellowstone River. Bad weather stopped the expedition from reaching Yellowstone, but they did explore the area around Jackson Hole.

Additionally, Bridger explored and cultivated an area that would later be known as the Bridger Pass. The alternate route helped to shorten up the Oregon Trail. The Pass would later go on to become the chosen route for a variety of different routes, including the Pony Express, the Union Pacific Railground Overland Route, and eventually, Interstate 80.

From there, Bridger served as a scout for Colonel Henry B. Carrington during a few different battles before being discharged in 1868. He ended up becoming blind by the mid-1870s and returned to Missouri. Here, his daughter, Virginia, took care of him until his death on July 17, 1881, at the age of 77.

Hundreds of years later, Bridger will get another turn in the spotlight (although our favorite still remains his reference in Inglourious Bastards, where Brad Pitt’s Lt. Aldo Raine states he’s a direct descendent of Bridger’s) thanks to American Primeval, where his legacy as one of America’s greatest pathfinders will once again be immortalized.

Kate Middleton’s 43 Best Looks on Her 43rd Birthday

LONDON — Since Kate Middleton became a member the British royal family in 2011, she has been flying the flag for local and international fashion, wearing clothing and accessories by both established and emerging designers. She married Prince William in an Alexander McQueen wedding dress designed by Sarah Burton, and continues to recycle her many McQueen outfits, mainly for special occasions.

As the Princess of Wales turns 43 on Jan. 9, it’s clear her 13 years in the limelight have made her an invaluable asset to the Royal brand, and to the British fashion industry.

“The princess holds a unique economic power to promote designers and brands, particularly on behalf of the British fashion industry. No other fashion, not even that of celebrities, is so closely tracked, reported, and shopped,” said Elizabeth Holmes, author of “HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style” in a 2023 interview with WWD.

Middleton has worn pieces from Catherine Walker, a favorite designer of her late mother-in-law Princess Diana, and championed the likes of Erdem, Emilia Wickstead, Roksanda and Jenny Packham.

Her fashion trajectory has evolved with time as she prepares to become the country’s future queen. Her look has become richer and more formal, with an accent on tailoring and fewer pieces from the high street.

“If you look back at their trajectory as a couple, for a very long time they were seen as very relatable, very down to earth and quite casual. I think what we’ve seen a little bit more of in recent months is them looking much more serious,” Bethan Holt, author of “The Queen: 70 Years of Majestic Style” and “The Duchess of Cambridge: A Decade of Modern Royal Style,” told WWD ahead of King Charles III’s coronation in 2023.

Holt also believes it’s the “job of the royals to put on a good show, and to give people something to feel optimistic about.”

Middleton has a rotation of designers for different occasions.

At state banquets, she’s often wearing an intricately made gown from Packham, while at formal state affairs such as Trooping the Colour and Remembrance Sunday, the princess relies on military-style coatdresses from McQueen or Walker.

Her relationship with Burton has lasted more than a decade, and it’s possible that it will continue even though Burton has become creative director of the French brand Givenchy.

“I can’t imagine that this is the end of the line for Kate’s relationship with Sarah. They appear to have become true collaborators, and it’s clear that the princess seeks Sarah’s advice and trusts her implicitly. We saw evidence of this when Sarah helped organize a really beautiful photo shoot to mark Kate’s 40th birthday, enlisting one of her favorite photographers, Paolo Roversi,” said Holt in September 2023.

The relationship between Middleton and Burton is a unique one, and the closest tie that the royal household has had with the world of fashion for years.

‘It’s Always Sunny’ ‘Abbott Elementary’ crossover has fans going wild

Philadelphians united! The first of two Abbott Elementary and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia crossover episodes aired on Wednesday night, leaving fans of the popular Philly-based sitcoms ecstatic.

The unlikely — though highly anticipated — meeting of the two worlds unfolded in Episode 9 of mockumentary Abbott Elementary’s fourth season. In the episode, called “Volunteers,” the titular school’s principal Ava Coleman (Janelle James) announced that the school district was sending a group of volunteers to help out.

Per ABC’s official synopsis for the episode, “things don’t go as planned” once the group of volunteers arrive at the West Philadelphia school.

Given the largely different worlds that the shows hail from, it’s perhaps unsurprising that it wasn’t a smooth experience. While Abbott tackles family-friendly fare with a focus on the school’s staff, FX’s It’s Always Sunny, which premiered in 2005, features characters who own a dive bar in South Philadelphia, use colorful language, and commit petty crimes.

The result is a series of hilarious moments, including Frank Reynolds (Danny DeVito) meeting Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis); Ronald “Mac” McDonald (Rob McElhenney) assisting principal Coleman (James), and Deandra “Sweet Dee” Reynolds (Kaitlin Olson) attempting to seduce Janine Teagues’ (Quinta Brunson) love interest Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams).

Abbott’s Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph) was also seen attempting to teach It’s Always Sunny’s Charlie Kelly (Charlie Day) to read.

While the first crossover episode told the story from the perspective of Abbott Elementary’s characters, the second part, which is set to air later in 2025, will be shown though the eyes of the It’s Always Sunny gang.

Why Did the Crossover Happen?

In a recently published interview with the Los Angeles Times, Abbott Elementary star and creator Quinta Brunson said the idea for the crossover came about after a chance meeting with Always Sunny creator Rob McElhenney.

“We met at the Emmys. And Rob and the whole Always Sunny team had just finished doing a presentation,” Brunson recounted. “The theme was TV shows throughout history.”

After Brunson won an Emmy for her efforts on her show, she said that “the first people I see backstage was them, and it couldn’t have been more fitting. The first person I saw was Bradley Cooper (also from Philly) because he FaceTimed me, and that was right before we were going to film his episode, to say congratulations.

“Then I run into them, and so I was just having the most Philly [night]. It was so beautiful. I think the Eagles were playing at that time. It just was really gorgeous. Never met them before. Rob and Kaitlin had told me that they watched Abbott, which just made my heart very warm. I think we very quickly said it: ‘Our shows should cross over one day.’”

McElhenney chimed in: “We continued the conversation at the upfronts. Then it moved quickly past just an aside or a joke, and we started pitching back ideas right there.”

Easter Eggs From the Episode

With each of the shows having such distinctive voices, there were efforts to include moments that fans of either sitcom would recognize.

These references came in at the start of the show, when there was a nod to It’s Always Sunny beginning each episode with a title card bearing the day and time.

Garrett Werner, who wrote the episode, told Variety that in Abbott, “we don’t have title cards, but after the cold open, the very first line is somebody saying the day and time as like, a nod to Sunny.

“There’s other little references [ …] they make. It’s just very fun to figure out all the lore of Sunny, and then what is the lore of us. So both Janine and Dee both have big feet. It’s like a very strange little thing, because they can line up on that and serve both audiences.”

As previously mentioned, Charlie’s inability to read was also brought from It’s Always Sunny into the Abbott Elementary storyline.

“This episode is every bit as important as every other episode in this season, as far as the seasonal mythology goes,” Abbott executive producer Patrick Schumacker told Variety. “In Season 4, we have the specter of this golf course and the gentrification in the neighborhood.

“There’s the illicit deal that Ava has struck with the lawyer from the golf course who’s giving Abbott payola, hush money, essentially. That stuff all comes into play in this crossover episode, and the Sunny gang influences that relationship as well. This episode doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It actually is one that rewards Abbott fans who are planning on watching the whole season.”

“I’m glad we’re not eliminating the actual It’s Always Sunny lore with this crossover and they’re criminals who thought they could get away with doing community service at a school,” said another.

‘Devoid Of Any Character’: Critics Have Harsh Reactions To Dick Wolf’s New Streaming Drama On Call, But Will That Stop It From Running 10 Seasons?

Dick Wolf is well-known for several successful procedural dramas that continue to dominate the 2025 TV schedule, like the Law & Order franchise and the One Chicago shows. For his latest creation — On Call, which is available to stream January 9 with an Amazon Prime Video subscription — he’ll be tackling that genre in half-hour episodes for the first time. Will Wolf’s first foray into the streaming world be as good to him as network television has been? Critics have some pretty harsh reactions after seeing all eight episodes of On Call Season 1, but I don’t necessarily think that’s enough to stop the Dick Wolf Entertainment train.

On Call stars Troian Bellisario as Long Beach PD training officer Traci Harmon, who is grieving the loss of a fellow officer as she trains recruits including her new partner Alex Diaz (Brandon Larracuente). Fans of other Dick Wolf projects might be excited to see a familiar face, as the trailer showed a surprise appearance from Chicago Fire star Monica Raymund. As for what else to expect from the new show, The Wrap’s Thelma Adams says viewers shouldn’t look for a huge shift away from the familiar formula, writing:

THR’s Angie Han is just glad the episodes clock in at under 30 minutes, because “at no point” does On Call justify the longer runtime of other procedurals. The writing shows little curiosity — even after all eight episodes — about the characters or the world they inhabit. The critic says:

Isabella Soares of Collider gives the series a 6 out of 10, writing that the chemistry between Harmon and Diaz is enjoyable, and the use of bodycam footage and other unique camerawork make for exhilarating action sequences. However, as other critics have said, the show fails to go deep enough to inspire potential bingers to click on the next episode. In Soares’ words:

Alistair Ryder of Looper’s response to On Call is a bit harsher, as the critic rates the series just 3 out of 10. Ryder calls watching the series “less fun than getting arrested” and says with its cliche-ridden storytelling and uninteresting characters, the only positive to this show is that it will inspire you to revisit better cop shows. Ryder continues:

Aramide Tinubu of Variety blames the half-hour runtime for why the characters — both main and supporting — are not developed and lack robust dialogue. While the body camerawork seems unique at first, it becomes overused as the series goes on and never serves to push the narrative forward. Tinubu concludes:

It sounds like On Call might have been able to use that extra half-hour in order to develop the characters more or dig deeper into some of the issues portrayed, but with the way Dick Wolf’s series have connected with viewers so well over the years, I wouldn’t be surprised to find that there’s an audience for these quick bites of fictionalized police work.

Marie Osmond Reacts To Brother Wayne’s Death: “A True, Loving Brother”

After Wayne Osmond’s death, The Osmonds are mourning a loss in their family.

Breaking her nine-month social media hiatus, Marie Osmond paid tribute to her late older brother with a heartfelt statement Wednesday on Instagram, after Wayne died at age 73 on New Year’s Day in Utah after suffering a stroke.

“I’m so grateful that just a few weeks ago, I was able to take a long drive to spend time with my brother Wayne,” she wrote in the post. “I really felt the Spirit compel me to go see him, and I’m so thankful I listened to what I was feeling. I will cherish those hours I spent with him for the rest of my life. I didn’t know that just a few days after my visit, he would have a massive stroke.

“I haven’t done any interviews or issued any statements until this post. The truth is, it’s just too hard to put into words, but I will try my best to honor one of the most loving men I have ever known. Wayne’s death has left another giant hole in my heart.

Reflecting on Wayne’s “long and successful career as an entertainer, musician, and songwriter,” founding their family band The Osmonds, Marie continued, “But what stands out to me as his sister were the joy-filled, humorous times I spent laughing with him and our deep intellectual conversations that left me edified. He was always my safe place to go when I needed advice.

“Wayne loved deeply, and he showered this love upon his beautiful wife, Kathy, whom he loved with all his heart, and his beautiful children and grandchildren. It’s all he ever talked about! I admired him, too, for his deep love and unwavering devotion to God our Father and His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Throughout his life, Wayne was an honorable member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was his eternal compass, and he was a light to others as he testified of God’s great plan for us in this life. If you can, listen to one of his favorite albums that my brothers wrote ‘The Plan’.

“So right now, if I could say anything to him, it would be: ‘Wayne, I could not cherish the gift God gave me more than to be loved by you in this life! You are a true, loving brother, and I will miss you so very much. I testify eternally of my great love for you with every fiber of my heart and soul! #TillWeMeetAgain,” added Marie. “I know many of you understand these feelings from losing your loved ones. My deepest prayers are with you and also those dealing w/ devastating fires in CA.”

Their brother Merrill Osmond previously confirmed Wayne’s death after he suffered a stroke. “I’ve never known a man that had more humility. A man with absolute no guile. An individual that was quick to forgive and had the ability to show unconditional love to everyone he ever met. Until I see him again, know that he was loved,” he wrote in part.

Born on August 28, 1951, in Ogden, Utah, Wayne Osmond began singing with his siblings Alan, Merrill and Jay in a barbershop quartet called The Osmond Brothers during the late 1950s. They found their break in 1962 on NBC variety show The Andy Williams Show, where they were soon joined by younger brother Donnie.

Wayne Osmond is survived by his wife of 50 years, Kathlyn; their three daughters and two sons; and all of his siblings, of whom he is the fourth-oldest.

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A new docuseries from “Quiet on Set” producer Investigation Discovery will explore the “insidious and terrifying” allegations of rape, violence and abuse leveled against Sean “Diddy” Combs.

The four-part series, titled “The Fall of Diddy,” will premiere across two nights starting Jan. 27 at 9 p.m. ET on ID.

The docuseries promises “unheard accounts from survivors and insiders,” as it features more than 30 interviews with Diddy’s accusers and former friends and employees. In the trailer for “The Fall of Diddy,” they detail years’ worth of alleged violence and abuse.

Among the people interviewed are Danity Kane member D. Woods, former Vibe editor-in-chief Danyel Smith and producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones. Thalia Graves, who alleges that Diddy violently raped her in 2001 and then threatened her into silence, also speaks out in the docuseries, saying, “I always believed that I was the only victim.”

Per ID, there will also be “accounts from new voices yet to be announced, including those coming forward for the first time with deeply disturbing accounts of their encounters with Combs.”

The series will also feature never-before-seen archival footage of Diddy, painting a full picture of the disgraced music mogul.

“[There are] a lot of people like Puffy in the music business,” Jones says in the trailer. “Exposing Puffy means exposing them.”

Combs has been accused of rape, child sexual abuse and sexual misconduct by multiple people for incidents taking place between 1991 and 2023. His homes were raided by the Department of Homeland Security, and he was arrested after a grand jury indicted him. He was charged with sex trafficking and racketeering and is currently incarcerated in Brooklyn as he awaits a criminal trial in May. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all federal criminal charges from 2024.

“The Fall of Diddy” is produced for Investigation Discovery by Maxine Productions and The Intellectual Property Corporation, both part of Sony Pictures Television, in association with Rolling Stone Films.